DOHA, Qatar, February 11, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Government of Sudan and the Justice and Equality Movement Sudan, represented by Amin Hassan Omer, State Minister and Head of the Darfur Follow-Up Office, and Arko Sulaiman Dahiya, Vice Chairman and Head of Delegation, signed a ceasefire agreement on 10 February, which was due to take effect at midnight in Darfur.

The Agreement was signed under the auspices of the Acting Joint Special Representative and Joint Chief Mediator a.i. Ms. Aichatou Mindaoudou and Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister, Ahmed Bin Abdullah Al-Mahmoud.

“This is a major breakthrough in the road towards a comprehensive and lasting peace accord in Darfur”, said Ms. Aichatou Mindaoudou. She congratulated both parties for this achievement and hoped that such agreement would attract the non-signatories movements to join in the peace process. She also called on the hold out movements to heed the advice of the international community and join the peace process.

“The road to peace is challenging and needs a great deal of resolve, perseverance and concessions from both sides”, said Ms. Mindaoudou, reiterating the Joint Mediation’s commitment to continue to work with the parties to the conflict towards achieving a comprehensive peace in Darfur.

She also praised the unwavering commitment of the Qatari Deputy Prime Minister Al-Mahmoud and the generosity and commitment of the Emir of the State of Qatar.

The text of the accord also includes provisions related to monitoring mechanisms, including

the Ceasefire Commission headed by UNAMID Force Commander and the Joint Commission, chaired by the Joint Special Representative and Joint Chief Mediator.

With the signing of the Ceasefire Agreement, the parties will now start negotiations on other substantive issues as per the agenda agreed upon on 24 January.